Surrey Union whipper-in Rob Mardles was arrested on Tuesday for assaulting and spitting on a female hunt sab at the end of a days illegal hunting.

Frustrated that Guildford and North Downs sabs had ruined one of their final meets of the season Mardles pushed the sab into a ditch and spat on her. She was kept in hospital overnight with an injured back and had to use a wheelchair upon her release.

Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “This week former footballer and Sky News pundit, Jamie Carragher, has been suspended after being filmed spitting at a car. We'd hope that the Surrey Union will follow suit and suspend their employee Rob Mardles whilst the police investigation is carried out.

With Lulu Hutley as one of their masters the hunt are clearly influential and we hope this doesn't affect the police investigation. Justice must be seen to be done against these violent countryside criminals or questions will be asked of Surrey Police. We wish the sab concerned a full and speedy recovery.”

The HSA can today expose illegal hunting by a beagle pack associated with one of Britain's top public schools. The £34,392 a year Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire encourages its students to participate in hunts by the Ampleforth Beagles.

In their 2017 newsletter, published on the official website of the Ampleforth Society, the hunt boast of their membership of the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles which they claim organises events "especially designed for young hare hunters." Elsewhere in the newsletter, the huntsman Toby Pedley gives a detailed account of an event at Cote Hill, Farndale that can only be an illegal hare hunt.

HSA Press Officer Lee Moon commented, "Hunting hares with beagles has been illegal for a generation. It is therefore extremely concerning that Ampleforth College have used their website to to promote the work of the AMHB with "young hare hunters" and publish a thinly-disguised account of a gruelling hour-long hare hunt. If the college want to refute our allegations they simply need to take an independent observer onto the moors and demonstrate how such a hunt is legally produced using "trails." We know, however, that they will decline this invitation as trail hunting is a total fiction."

Shaun Stacey, self appointed hunt steward, was today sentenced at Northampton Magistrates court for multiple assaults against hunt saboteurs. He received a 6 month community order, 4 month tag between 19:00 and 07:00 and a fine of £1010 including compensation to the victims.

He was not deemed fit for the community order (although fit enough to attend hunts and assault people) so he has to attend 10 sessions to learn empathy. He has stated to the probation service that he will NOT be attending any hunts. Whether he does remains to be seen.

He still has one further assault charge to be heard in the coming months.

Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “Stacey and his band of so called stewards are nothing more than a violent criminal gang who protect illegal hunts and attack anyone who gets in their way. Stacey has an extensive record of violence against hunt sabs and whilst we're pleased he was found guilty the sentence was far to lenient and we believe that if the tables were turned then a prison sentence would be the result. If hunts have nothing to hide then why do they employ these violent stewards to stop hunt sabs.”

North Cambs Hunt Sabs came under violent attack today from followers of the Fitzwilliam - Milton Hunt.

After a successful day preventing hunting at the Oakley Hunt in Bedfordshire, North Cambs checked on a known meet location of the Fitzwilliam. Upon finding the hunt the North Cambs vehicle was surrounded and blocked in by several four wheel drive vehicles, just outside of Lutton near Huntingdon.

One vehicle collided with the North Cambs' car after racing up alongside on the verge and driving across the lane in front of the moving sab vehicle. Several hunt supporters got out of their vehicles and used heavy implements to smash the windscreen, side windows and rear window of the North Cambs car.

Lacerations from broken glass were caused to the occupants, who then managed to get out of the situation and were pursued at high speed through country lanes by their assailants, before finally driving to Peterborough police station to make full statements and submit video evidence for prosecution.

Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteur Association, stated: “The Fitzwilliam hunt are under increasing pressure from hunt saboteurs and will soon be in court to answer charges of illegal hunting. Time and again we see hunts resorting to violence when decent folk stop their illegal killing. These people are fools because we will never be deterred by acts of violence and in fact it only proves how effective we're being and spurs us on to greater efforts. Whether the police decide to act or not, North Cambs sabs will have the backing of other sab groups to ensure justice is done.”

David Thomas, hunt Master of the Dwyryd hunt, has today been sentenced to 22 weeks imprisonment and banned from keeping dogs for 8 years after being found guilty of badger baiting. Jordan Houlsten, the hunt terrier man, was also sentenced to 20 weeks and received a ban on keeping dogs for 8 years. A 17 year old who had previously pleaded guilty to being present at a dog fight at the hunt kennels was given a 10month suspended sentence and banned from keeping dogs for 4 years.

David Thomas has previously been accused of badger baiting but got away with it on that occasion. He attempted to blame his co-accused in court today. The judge took into account when sentencing the adults that a child had been dragged into this horrific animal abuse. The evidence shown in court was disturbing and Magistrates Gwyn Jones had no option but to hand out prison sentences. Another man who pleaded guilty on the day received a 10 month suspended sentence and an 8 year ban from keeping dogs.

Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “David Thomas is the founder, master and huntsman of the Dwyryd Hunt. His ban on keeping dogs means there is no other option than for the hunt to be disband. They will attempt to claim that someone else owns the hunt hounds but this will obviously be a falsehood. The hounds must be re-homed and the apparatus of the hunt broken up. We expect the Masters Of Foxhounds Association to lead the calls for this course of action and to formally distance themselves from the Dwyryd Hunt.”